Italian craft IPA is the counter-story to Italian craft lager. If Birrificio Italiano and Tipopils defined Italy as a Pilsner country, Opperbacco (Abruzzo), Ritual Lab (Rome), Del Ducato, and Toccalmatto have quietly built an Italian IPA identity in parallel — often experimenting more freely than their US and UK peers because Italian craft brewing started without the weight of American IPA orthodoxy. Opperbacco alone appears multiple times on this ranking with TriplIpa, Overdose, and 4×4 — a portfolio range that spans the family in a way few single breweries attempt.
The hopIQ ranking captures the 30-beer Italian IPA set: 19 American IPAs, plus New England, Imperial, Session, Double, West Coast, and even a Belgian Triple IPA (a cross-family experiment more characteristic of Italian craft than of British or American traditions). The scale is smaller than the German or Spanish scenes, but the average technical execution and stylistic ambition are among the highest in European craft — which shows in medal history at the Barcelona Beer Challenge, Brussels Beer Challenge, and European Beer Star.
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score weights style authenticity (80%), user engagement (10%), notability (10%), and award history. Active, in-production beers only — non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 30 beers from 21 breweries.
Top 5 of 30
1
Birrificio Isola IPABest Overall#111 worldwide
Birrificio Isola · American IPA · Italy
BitternessStrongly bitter
A Sardinian American IPA from Birrificio Isola, founded December 2017 in Thiesi in Sassari province. Amber, unfiltered, dry-hopped with American varieties for tropical fruit and citrus over a firm bitter finish. 6% vol., 45 IBU. Part of… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
2
Guerrilla#147 worldwide
CRAK Brewery · American IPA · Italy
BitternessStrongly bitter
CRAK's award-winning flagship — Silver at European Beer Star 2024, first place at Brussels Beer Challenge 2023. An explosion of tropical fruit from Citra and Mosaic hops: mango, pineapple, grapefruit and a clean resinous backdrop.… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
3
Gjulia IPA
Gjulia · American IPA · Italy
BitternessStrongly bitter
Gjulia's flagship — a top-fermented, unfiltered, unpasteurised Italian Pale Ale made from estate-grown barley and hops at the Altùris farm in San Pietro al Natisone. Intense citrus, grapefruit and resin on the nose; a medium-bodied palate… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
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Cavana IPA
Birrificio Cavana · American IPA · Italy
BitternessStrongly bitter
The flagship IPA from Trieste's Cavana district brewpub — brewed on-site and poured fresh at the tap. Dark gold and hazy with Simcoe-driven hop character: tropical fruit, pine resin and a firm bitter backbone at 6.0% ABV. Best enjoyed at… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
5
San Gimignano IPA
Birrificio San Gimignano · American IPA · Italy
BitternessStrongly bitter
Birrificio San Gimignano's IPA — hoppy and aromatic, with the medieval towers of San Gimignano on the label and the spirit of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route in its character. Pale gold with a white head; citrus and tropical hop aromas… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
Ranks 6–10
6
Sabino IPA
Birrificio Sabino · American IPA · Italy
The hop-forward expression from Sassari's award-winning craft brewery — tropical and citrusy with a clean, assertive bitterness at 50 IBUs. Brewed with Sardinian spring water from the nuragic highlands of northern Sardinia. Available at… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
7
Vecchia Orsa IPA
Birrificio Vecchia Orsa · American IPA · Italy
Vecchia Orsa's American IPA — a bold, assertive hoppy beer that placed fifth nationally in Slow Food Italy's beer rankings. Pale gold with a fluffy white head; the nose is decisively hoppy with citrus zest, pine resin and tropical… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
8
Giant Step
CRAK Brewery · American IPA · Italy
CRAK's statement double-dry-hopped IPA — loaded with Simcoe and Citra for an explosion of mandarin, mango, pineapple and cedar with dank resinous undertones. A chewy malt backbone holds up a long, satisfying bitter finish at 7.5% ABV.… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
9
PBN IPA
Piccolo Birrificio Napoletano · American IPA · Italy
The hop-forward expression from Naples' Piccolo Birrificio Napoletano — available on cask at Versa alongside the Blancheazzuro. Pale gold with a white head; citrusy and lightly tropical on the nose with a clean, firm bitterness. The IPA… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
10
Keto Aurum
Birra del Borgo · American IPA · Italy
Birra del Borgo's big IPA — 'Keto' takes its name from the ancient Roman word for hops, making this a beer with genuine historical lineage. Bold, golden, and intensely hoppy with a pronounced tropical fruit and citrus character, it is the… Ranked here for style-fit against the IPA reference and award history in IPA-specific categories.
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11
Mundaka
CRAK Brewery·Session IPA · 4.6%·Noticeably bitter·golden 8
12
Magma IPA
Birrificio Magma·American IPA · 6%·Strongly bitter·amber 10
13
Aretusa
Namasté Brewery·American IPA · 6.2%·Strongly bitter·golden 8
14
Jungle Juice IPA
Jungle Juice Brewing·American IPA · 6%·Strongly bitter·golden 7
15
Ballarak IPA
Ballarak·American IPA · 6%·Strongly bitter·golden 5
16
Revelation Cat Dry Hop Thriller
Revelation Cat·American IPA · 6.5%·Strongly bitter·amber 10
17
Plain of the Po
CRAK Brewery·New England IPA · 5.2%·Strongly bitter·golden 7
18
Hydra
Archea Brewery·American IPA · 6.5%·Strongly bitter·golden 7
19
Birrificio Fiorentino IPA
Birrificio Fiorentino·American IPA · 6.2%·Strongly bitter·golden 7
20
Tabachera IPA
Birra Amarcord·American IPA · 6.5%·Strongly bitter·golden 5
21
Kush
Ritual Lab·American IPA · 6.5%·Strongly bitter·golden 5
22
4×4
Opperbacco·West Coast IPA · 7%·Very bitter·golden 7
23
Violent Shared
Opperbacco·Session IPA · 4.1%·Noticeably bitter·pale gold 4
24
Alley Hop Imperial IPA
Birra Bellazzi·Imperial IPA · 9.5%·Very bitter·golden 8
25
TriplIpa
Opperbacco·Belgian Triple IPA · 7.8%·Very bitter·golden 6
26
Be Happy
Opperbacco·New England IPA · 7.5%·Strongly bitter·golden 5
27
CRAK NEIPA
CRAK Brewery·New England IPA · 6.5%·Strongly bitter·pale gold 3
28
Baladin Super
Birrificio Artigianale Baladin·Double IPA · 9%·Very bitter·amber 9
29
Overdose
Opperbacco·Imperial IPA · 9.2%·Very bitter·golden 8
30
Too Nerdy
Ritual Lab·Double IPA · 8%·Very bitter·golden 8
The taste landscape
Of the 30 top beers, 0 lean malt-forward and 30 lean hop-forward.